Music Under Fire

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Elvis is back! No, not that Elvis. I am talking about the great musician: Elvis Costello. Costello, born as Declan Patrick MacManus, is a singer/songwriter from London, England. Elvis made his first appearance in 1974 and he’s been rocking his listeners ever since. The impressively long list of instruments that have been played by Elvis Costello are: vocals, guitar, piano/keyboards, bass, drums, ukulele, glockenspiel, mandolin, tambourine, harmonica, melodica, celesta, harmonium, organ, cymbal, vox continental electric organ, synclavier, casiotone, maracas, and bells. Some of Costello’s genres of music are rock, punk, pub rock, and New Wave. But over the years Costello has expanded his range and tackled many different genres of music. The part about Elvis Costello is that he isn't just rock and punk, but his choice of music spreads out.

Over the years Costello has been in hit TV shows like: “The Larry Sanders Show”, “3rd Rock from the Sun”, “Frasier”, “Late Show with David Letterman”, and “Two and a Half Men”. He has also featured in movies such as: “Straight to Hell”, “Spiceworld”, “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”, “200 Cigarettes”, “Putting the River in Reverse”, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”, and “Delirious”.

Costello's newest album, MOMOFUKU, includes The Imposters. The Imposters are: Steve Nieve (Piano), Pete Thomas (Drums), and Davey Faragher (Bass). Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas were in The Attractions with Costello when he formed it in 1977. MOMOFUKU was released on April 22nd by Highway Records. Costello decided to originally release this album on vinyl. Which I believe is a noble choice. Vinyl just sounds better, it is truly the way music is meant to be heard.

Elvis Costello and The Imposters’ new album is fantastic. It is classic Costello. My personal favorite song on the album is track one, side one, “Now Hiding Places”. Other great songs on the album are “Turpentine”, “Stella Hurt”, “American Gangster Time”, and “Go Away”. He also collaborates with composer Loretta Lynne on “Pardon Me, Madam, My Name is Eve”, and Rosanne Cash on “Song with Rosie”. Also, two great songs.

This album is very Dylan-esque, as usual. It goes back to albums like "Get Happy!!", and shows the true sound of Elvis Costello. It truly is classic Costello.

This summer, he will be touring along side of The Police on their 2007/2008 Reunion Tour.

For more information on Elvis Costello and The Imposters, you can check out his website at http://www.elviscostello.com/.

The Motion City Soundtrack Acoustic EP should be a welcomed adjustment from the typical synth and electric of the group. Russian Circles' alt. rock, seven-track album have been getting rave reviews on their latest Station. We also suggest checking out Germany's Tokio Hotel as well as taking a gander at No Age's latest album Nouns.

MP3: No Age - Eraser (buy)
MP3: Nik Freitas - Sun Down (buy)
MP3: Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance (buy)
MP3: Gentleman Auction House - The Book Of Matches (buy)
MP3: Still Lost Bird Music - Chocolate Heart (buy)

((Sounder)) - Good Things Come and Go (MySpace)
3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down (Official) (MySpace)
Akissforjersey - Victims (Official) (MySpace)
Animal Collective - Water Curses EP (Official) (MySpace)
Armin van Buuren - Imagine (Official) (MySpace)
Barenaked Ladies - Snacktime kids album (Official) (MySpace)
Black Moth - Super Rainbow Zodiac Girl 7" (Official) (MySpace)
Carney - Nothing Without Your Help EP (Official) (MySpace)
Charlotte Sometimes - Waves and the Both of Us (Official) (MySpace)
Dosh - Wolves and Wishes (Official) (MySpace)
Elvis Costello - Momofuku (Official) (MySpace)
Firewater - The Golden Hour (Official) (MySpace)
Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant (Official) (MySpace)
From First to Last - From First to Last (Official) (MySpace)
Gavin DeGraw - Gavin DeGraw (Official) (MySpace)
Gentleman Auction House - The Book of Matches EP (Official) (MySpace)
Greeley Estates - Go West Young Man, Let The Evil Go East (Official) (MySpace)
IAMX - The Alternative (Official) (MySpace)
Ja Rule - The Mirror (Official) (MySpace)
Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward (Official) (MySpace)
Keith Sweat - Just Me (Official) (MySpace)
Long Blondes - Couples (Official) (MySpace)
Lucky Dragons - Dream Island Laughing Language (Official) (MySpace)
Lykke Li - Little Bit EP (Official) (MySpace)
Matmos - Supreme Baloon (Official) (MySpace)
Meho Plaza - Meho Plaza (Official) (MySpace)
Men Women & Children - Ultra Hot Volcano (Official) (MySpace)
Millencolin - Machine 15 (Official) (MySpace)
Mint Condition - e-Life (Official) (MySpace)
Moral Crux - Moral Crux (Official) (MySpace)
Motion City Soundtrack - Acoustic EP (Official) (MySpace)
mr. Gnome - Deliver This Creature (Official) (MySpace)
Neil Diamond - Home Before Dark (Official) (MySpace)
Nik Freitas - Sun Down (Official) (MySpace)
No Age - Nouns (Official) (MySpace)
Pattern is Movement - All Together (Official) (MySpace)
Peter Walker - Echo My Soul (Official) (MySpace)
Rob GEE - Says (Official) (MySpace)
Russian Circles - Station (Official) (MySpace)
Serena-Maneesh - SM Backwards (Official) (MySpace)
Setting Sun - To The Next Place (Official) (MySpace)
Shawn Lee & The Ping Pong Orchestra - Miles of Styles (Official) (MySpace)
Shy Child - Noise Won't Stop (Official) (MySpace)
Simon Joyner - The Cowardly Traveller Pays His Toll (Official) (MySpace)
Sinkane - Color Voice (Official) (MySpace)
Socratic - Spread the Rumors (Official) (MySpace)
Spark Is A Diamond - Try This On For Size (Official) (MySpace)
The Dreamscapes Project - Pity In A Heartbeat (Official) (MySpace)
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement (Official) (MySpace)
The Republic Tigers - Keep Color (MySpace)
Tim Fite - Fair Ain't Fair (Official) (MySpace)
Tokio Hotel - Scream (MySpace)
Wolftron - Flesh & Fears (Official) (MySpace)